Published: Monday, December 10, 2012 at 12:12 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, December 10, 2012 at 12:12 p.m.

OSPREY - The second-graders bound in, some skipping, some trotting, one missing a shoe.

Facts

CORRECTION...

This story has been modified from its original version, published Dec. 10, 2012, as follows:

The search for Largo's successor is already underway.

This story incorrectly stated the search parameters initially.

Steve Largo is the only thing standing between the students and their chicken nuggets.

As he does every school day, Largo takes his usual post as lunchroom monitor, directing them in line like a crossing guard. This is one of those little things Largo will miss when the longtime Pine View School principal retires at the end of June.

"You start to realize you've been doing this for so long and you realize it's not going to happen anymore," Largo, 61, said about his rituals of watching the energetic students in the lunchroom or getting on the bus.

Largo, currently the longest-serving principal at a Sarasota County school, has led the Osprey school for gifted students since August 1988 — nearly a quarter-century.

"That's really almost unheard of," Superintendent Lori White said.

Largo is retiring to take advantage of the state retirement program, known as DROP. He is also ready to spend more time with his family, which includes four children and soon-to-be five grandchildren. He plans to stay in Sarasota and wants to stay active, possibly consulting, said Largo, who competes in triathlons and is training for his second marathon in his spare time. The search for Largo's successor is already underway.

The district hopes to hire his replacement this spring as it conducts a national search, posting advertisements in Education Week magazine and other professional journals. The next principal is expected to start July 1 and earn $99,507 to $117,419, depending on the level of experience, according to the district. Largo is paid $117,419 a year. When Largo first started, Pine View was a small school, consisting of 70 staff and 847 students on a 5-acre campus.

Now the school sits on a 74-acre site, so large that golf carts are the easiest way to get around. The staff has grown to 209 and there are more than 2,200 students.

Principal of the Year

By any means, Pine View is not a typical school. There is no football or basketball team at Pine View, one of the rare public Florida schools for gifted students.

Nor are there any bells in between classes — too noisy.

Instead, Pine View feels more like a college campus. There is a grassy quad where students are often seen reading and there is a student union, where lunch is served.

Pine View is one of the Top 30 schools in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report's rankings.

He was named the Florida High School Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals in 2004.

When Largo leaves, so will all that institutional knowledge, White said.

Largo said there are concerns about the new leadership at the school, fears typical of any big change.

"It's a sense of anxiety, but really we have a fabulous group of assistant principals," he said.

Last month, the district surveyed 61 Pine View staff, parents and community members.

When asked what qualities they wanted in the new principal, they ranked the most important qualities as someone who is a visionary and diplomatic and personable with students, parents and teachers. Other key traits were open-mindedness and experience in gifted education.

<p><em>OSPREY</em> - The second-graders bound in, some skipping, some trotting, one missing a shoe.</p><p>Steve Largo is the only thing standing between the students and their chicken nuggets.</p><p>As he does every school day, Largo takes his usual post as lunchroom monitor, directing them in line like a crossing guard. This is one of those little things Largo will miss when the longtime Pine View School principal retires at the end of June.</p><p>"You start to realize you've been doing this for so long and you realize it's not going to happen anymore," Largo, 61, said about his rituals of watching the energetic students in the lunchroom or getting on the bus.</p><p>Largo, currently the longest-serving principal at a Sarasota County school, has led the Osprey school for gifted students since August 1988 — nearly a quarter-century.</p><p>"That's really almost unheard of," Superintendent Lori White said.</p><p>Largo is retiring to take advantage of the state retirement program, known as DROP. He is also ready to spend more time with his family, which includes four children and soon-to-be five grandchildren. He plans to stay in Sarasota and wants to stay active, possibly consulting, said Largo, who competes in triathlons and is training for his second marathon in his spare time. The search for Largo's successor is already underway.</p><p>The district hopes to hire his replacement this spring as it conducts a national search, posting advertisements in Education Week magazine and other professional journals. The next principal is expected to start July 1 and earn $99,507 to $117,419, depending on the level of experience, according to the district. Largo is paid $117,419 a year. When Largo first started, Pine View was a small school, consisting of 70 staff and 847 students on a 5-acre campus.</p><p>Now the school sits on a 74-acre site, so large that golf carts are the easiest way to get around. The staff has grown to 209 and there are more than 2,200 students.</p><p><B>Principal of the Year </B></p><p>By any means, Pine View is not a typical school. There is no football or basketball team at Pine View, one of the rare public Florida schools for gifted students.</p><p>Nor are there any bells in between classes — too noisy.</p><p>Instead, Pine View feels more like a college campus. There is a grassy quad where students are often seen reading and there is a student union, where lunch is served.</p><p>Pine View is one of the Top 30 schools in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report's rankings.</p><p>In past years, the school was ranked as high as No. 6.</p><p>"He's elevated Pine View," White said, calling Largo a strong administrator experienced in dealing with highly-involved parents and children of diverse ages. Pine View teaches grades 2-12. </p><p>Largo, himself, has also won accolades.</p><p>He was named the Florida High School Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals in 2004.</p><p>When Largo leaves, so will all that institutional knowledge, White said.</p><p>Largo said there are concerns about the new leadership at the school, fears typical of any big change.</p><p>"It's a sense of anxiety, but really we have a fabulous group of assistant principals," he said.</p><p>Last month, the district surveyed 61 Pine View staff, parents and community members.</p><p>When asked what qualities they wanted in the new principal, they ranked the most important qualities as someone who is a visionary and diplomatic and personable with students, parents and teachers. Other key traits were open-mindedness and experience in gifted education.</p><p>"We want to find the best fit," White said.</p>